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Gold nugget # 1: Examples and case studies – bring it to life, make it real.

It’s what people want to know.

How does this work in real life? How do people actually use this stuff? ‘And is it the same for everyone’?

Short examples and case studies illustrate your point. They paint a picture that includes time, money, place and people. They make it real.

They give people:

Clarity – Ah, so that’s how it works.

Belief – OK, people do actually use this stuff.

Inspiration – That rocks. I want to do what they’re doing.

Motivation – If they can do it, so can I.

Ways to use examples and case studies:

Choose a range to give the big picture. For the ‘How to use Social Media’ course we used a start-up, an established law firm and an innovative online business.

Use one case study to demonstrate all your points. Show in depth how one person/organisation works.

Choose carefully. Examples and case studies should bring flat facts to life. So they mean something to your audience.

Gold nugget # 2: Share a process – make it doable

(Up to 7 steps work best because it feels manageable).

Are you a whizz in the kitchen?

Given a list of ingredients and a picture of the finished dish, could you make it? Maybe not. That’s why recipe books sell in their millions. The process matters. We need clear step by step instructions to get it right.

So make your expertise doable. Demystify what you do by sharing a process.

Answer questions that begin ‘How do I ….?

How do I use metaphors?

How do I identify my social media content sweet-spot?

How do I track social media metrics?

With easy-to-follow steps.

Bear in mind why recipes work:

We know what success looks like

The end product is achievable

We follow a logical sequence of small steps broken down into stages

We know what’s needed to get the job done – ingredients, measures and tools

Gold nugget # 3: Common mistakes – Save people time

Did you pass your driving test first time?

Nope, me neither.

What did you fail on? Was it any of these?

Top 5 reasons people fail the driving test (in the UK)

Poor observation at junctions

Failing to check blind spots when reverse parking

Incorrect signal use

Incorrect positioning on the road

Inappropriate speed for a driving test

This list helps learner drivers decide what needs practice.

Help people focus their efforts in the right place.

Save them time. Draw on your experience. Say where most people go wrong.

Gold nugget # 4: Warning signs – Achtung! Road crash ahead.

Ever had a costly garage bill? Or maybe an accident? All because you didn’t know the warning signs?

Warning signs like these:

It takes effort to steer around a corner

Steering wheel vibrates vigorously while idling

Whining or squealing noise when you turn the wheel

Take note. These are all signs of failing power-steering. Now you know, you’re prepared. You can take action before you lose control or spin off the road.

Experts often take warning signs for granted. Because you spot and correct them automatically. It’s just part of what you do. So you forget how important they are for novices.

Take the time to spell out warning signs. Your learners will thank you for it.

Wake up to your true value

It’s understandable. You stopped thinking about the ABCs of what you do long ago. It’s not what you talk about on a day-to-day basis with your peers. So it’s hard to value (or remember) the things you’ve done and learnt to reach this point.

But here’s the thing.

Your job is to help people make sense of information. And learners need concrete details – your experience – to create meaning from abstract ideas and theories.

Trying to teach an abstract principle without concrete foundations is like trying to start a house by building a roof in the air.